I know i don't post alot on the groups, but i thought any one in ohioor the surronding area should know what is going on at our barn,because we have no clue where this virus comes from. It is mostlikely Equine Herpes Virus 1, also know as rhinopnuementitis. It isthe neuroloigic form of the virus, and has infected over 90% of ourbarn in a weeks time. the fist sign we had a problem was the horsesstarted getting temps from 101 to 105.9, and some were lethargic buthad no other symptoms. we thought it was the flu. but in a weekstime, the nurologic syptoms appeared. horses were staggering, losingcontrol of bladder and having muscle spasms, then they would fall, andonce down none so far have gotten back up. 9 were put down, 4 weresent to OSU, and 2 of those died. 33 total have shown the nuerologicsymptoms, but this isn't over yet. there are about 10 horses in ourlarge arena that are living in there attached to twine from theceiling, so when they go down they don't do it in their stalls, it isalso easier to care for the worst ones all in one area. Seniors andjuniors and a team of vets are doing the nursing. I took the 10pm to6am shift on sunday night, and i hope to never have to see such athing ever again. One horse was down during my shift, we had to rollhim over and get him to his feet every two hours, and he got and iv,and two of us sat with him at all time, he died the next day, alongwith 3 other horses that were all standing when we left at 6 am, andwere dead by noon. Vaccinate your horses, all of these horses are ona full and complete vaccine scedule, and it still couldn't preventthis from happening. i don't know what else to say, besides that iloved each and every one of these horses, and now all i can do forthem is sit on deathwatch. i just wanted to share this, so others inthe horse community know about this new strain of rhino, and are ableto watch for sypmtoms, or maybe could tell me if they know of anoutbreak somewhere else.

A suspected viral outbreak at the University of Findlay's equestriancomplex at 11178 County Road 201 has killed nine horses in the pastthree days, prompting the university to quarantine the facility, andanother horse complex it owns on County Road 40.

The death toll among the valuable horses at the County Road 201facility was expected to rise.

All local horse owners are also being advised to quarantine their ownbarns until the exact cause of the sickness is known -- and known tobe contained.

About 200 students from the university's equestrian program attended ameeting Monday at the main campus, where they were told the status oftheir horses.

Instructor Julie Jewett had the grim task of reading the names of deadand dying horses. Each name read was followed by mournful cries fromthe students.

It is believed that nearly all of the 140 horses at the James L. ChildJr. Equestrian Complex on County Road 201 are most likely infectedwith the virus. This facility is for students who are studying Englishriding.

Two horses were in "critical" condition late Monday night, nine werein stable condition and two had just started to show symptoms.

Veterinarians for the University of Findlay said they suspect thehorses are dying of equine herpes virus, but are still waiting forautopsy and culture results from Ohio State University. Those resultsare expected to be available within the week.

The equine herpes virus is not a threat to humans or other animals.

Retired veterinarian C.R. Beckett, the chairman of the University ofFindlay's Board of Trustees, said the carnage on County Road 201 is"devastating beyond belief and description."

Beckett said in his 35 years of equestrian medicine, he has never seenanything like this.

If it is the equine herpes virus, Beckett said, it is a variant, ormutant strain, that is attacking the central nervous system of thehorses. He said the equine herpes virus normally affects a horse'srespiratory system.

Once the horses start showing symptoms, which mimic the flu, many diewithin hours, Beckett said.

He said the virus was most likely brought into the complex by a horsethat carried the disease but was immune to it.

The complex on County Road 201 houses mostly European Warm Bloods, abreed of horses known for show abilities. Many are thoroughbreds andare quite valuable. They range in age from two years to 20 years, andare owned by UF students, the university and others who bring theirhorses to the facility for training.

The university's other equestian center, a western riding facilitycalled the Center for Equine and Pre-Veterinary Studies at 11613County Road 40, houses more than 300 horses.

Dr. Greg Hass, a veterinarian for the University of Findlay, said theworst may be over within the next two days.

Hass said the virus is most likely spread from horse to horse throughrespiratory secretions. He said those who are working with horsesshould wash their hands and clothes completely and disinfect theirboots. Equipment should not be shared between horses.

The university has moved all classes out of the County Road 201equestrian complex until further notice. English riding students andwestern riding students will also be separated during their classroomstudies, as an added precaution in making sure the virus doesn'tspread to the western riding facility.

PLEASE PASS ON TO ALL HORSE PEOPLE YOU KNOW...THANKS!!

Life is all about ass; you're either covering it, laughing it off, kicking it, kissing it, busting it, trying to get a piece of it or behaving like one.

A suspected viral outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) last weekend in Northern Ohio has prompted many questions to veterinarians. EHV-1 is responsible for major outbreaks of paralytic disease throughout North America and the world. It can also cause abortion in pregnant mares and respiratory disease in young horses. Transmission requires direct contact with virus-containing secretions. Since viral shedding occurs in all EHV-1 infections, all have the potential to result in paralytic disease. Neurological disease usually affects the hindquarters, although occasionally a head tilt of cranial nerve paralysis will occur. Symptoms will develop rapidly, reaching a maximum at 48 hours, and usually do not progress thereafter. Initial signs are ataxia and alterations in gait affecting the rear. The horse may be reluctant to move and often drag its toes. Tail paralysis, bladder paralysis with dribbling of urine and loss of sensation over the hindquarters are common signs. Diagnosis can be made by recovering the virus in blood or cerebral spinal fluid, or by serum antibody determinations. Visit www.myHorseMatters.com to read the AAEP Vaccination Guidelines in the Vaccination category, on when to vaccinate your horse for EHV-1.